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A Gentleman and a Rogue

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Writing Tips - The Appeal of Romantic Comedy

Some of the traits that draw me toward someone are their
laugh, their smile, and their sense of humor. For me, that's the appeal of
romantic comedy – watching a couple confront their conflicts equipped with a
light-hearted disposition. So, what are some of the themes that make a romantic comedy
work?

Themes:

Fish Out of Water

This is where you take the hero/heroine out of their element
and put them in a completely different situation. For example, bring in a
"big city" TV reporter to run a small town TV station, or a "big
city" cop to be the small town police chief. They're both out of their
element. The big city reporter could be attracted to the local fire chief who
is a local boy. Or the new police chief from the big city might find himself
attracted to the quirky girl next door who teaches at the local school and
makes homemade soap on the side.

TIP: What amps up the comedy? Have your characters overreact
to the situations they find themselves in.

Deception

Nothing brings out a laugh like a little well- meaning
deception. Our hero/heroine is pretending to be something they're not – lying
about their job, their feelings or their intentions because they think they
might not be good enough for the other person.

Examples: Tess in Working Girl or Fiona in Shrek or Michael
in Tootsie.

TIP: Deception helps builds conflict – interior as well as
external and conflict is what the characters need to change and grow. Example:
Sandra Bullock's character in "While You Were Sleeping."

Mismatched

Think Cinderella with a chuckle. The handsome prince or
billionaire sweeps our heroine off her feet only our heroine might be a call
girl (think Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman) or a chauffeur's daughter (think
Julia Ormond in Sabrina) or Princess Fiona in Shrek.

What makes a romantic comedy resonate?

Ultimately, there's something that terrifies the
hero/heroine emotionally. It could be commitment, security, image, or not being
good enough, attractive enough, or competent enough. That's inner conflict, and
most readers can sympathize with all those elements. The other half of the
romance helps them face that fear and overcome it with a little comedy – the
tool that infuses their inner strength and courage.

9 comments:

I love romantic comedies!! "While You Were Sleeping" is my all-time favorite. I also own all of those movies you listed, as well as "Sleepless in Seattle," "You've Got Mail," "Notting Hill," "Two Weeks Notice," and I could go on and on I suppose.

I don't write the genre, though. I do like to add humor to my paranormal romances, but I'm not sure I could do flat-out comedy. There's this fine line between funny and silly and is easily crossed.

I love romantic comedies. There is something about the humor that makes me happy! My favorite romantic comedy, if you can call it that, is Valley Girl. Yep, I'm an 80's girl and this one really is a Romeo and Juliet story. :)

My all time favorite comedy is Something's Gotta Give with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. They were both amazing. Most of my novels are romantic comedies, especially the latest one, Mother's Day Babies, with two scenes that will make you laugh out loud.

My favorites would be: While You Were Sleeping; Fools Rush In; You've Got Mail; Sabrina; and Roman Holiday; Return To Me; The American President; 10 Things I Hate About You; Singin' In The Rain; and Definitely, Maybe.

A couple of those tend more toward the comedy than the romance, but I'm counting them anyway.

I'm not old enough to remember Clark Gable, but since I found him on Turner Classics a few years ago, I try to catch all his movies. Most of which are romantic comedies. My favorite (and it's a must-see) is "It Happened One Night" (Clark Gable and Colleen Corbett, 1934) I laughed all the way through.

Also, Cary Grant can tickle my funny bone. "Bringing Up Baby," That was released in the 30s also.

I agree with Christina. The Doris Day-Rock Hudson movies are hilarious. And don't forget the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis shenanigans.

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Journey of the Heart

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Quotes on writing:

"Transitions are critically important. I want the reader to turn the page without thinking she's turning the page. It must flow seamlessly." - Janet Evanovich

"You can stroke people with words."~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Words are... the most powerful drug used by mankind."~ Rudyard Kipling

Write drunk; edit sober.- Ernest Hemingway

"A word is deadWhen it is said, Some say.I say it just Begins to liveThat day."~ Emily Dickenson

"Never Regret. If it's good, it's

wonderful. If it's bad, it's

experience." - Victoria Holt

By Heart and Compass

Recommended Read: Danielle Thorne's released, July 2010

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"Drew realizes the true meaning behind her need for touch, when a tiger shark shifter walks out of her dreams and takes her to his underwater world."

About Me

A member of Generation X, Stephanie was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. After graduating from Central High, she joined the U.S. Army. She spent 11 years in the military, 7 stationed in Germany. While in the military she earned her B.S. in Political Science from California Baptist University in Riverside, CA in 1995. She left the Army in 1997 and settled in California. She now works for LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher. The New England Patriots are still her favorite football team. Stephanie has been married for over 19 years. She has two boys, Andrew, 8, and Joseph, 4.